The Race Within [BLOG]

There are myriad powerful, practical, and universal lessons to be gleaned from the science and art of athletic activities. For me, two big lessons became apparent in elementary school when I was competing in the Junior Olympics’ 200 Meter race. After assuming a strong lead, despite the fact that my coach had repeatedly warned me that losing focus of the finish line would cost me the race, I allowed the sound of impending footsteps from behind to distract me to the point that I turned my head, stumbled slightly, lost the lead, and worst of all, got completely taken out of my game. I vowed that day to grow from my mistake and forever carry these nuggets of wisdom with me:

Avoid Looking in Your Peripheral View

Don’t confuse this as meaning that you should be unaware. I was very aware of what was happening in my race, as the footsteps and heavy breath of the girl behind me made her presence and position abundantly clear. What I didn’t need to do was look back at her and give in to my curiosity about who this person was who dared try and pass me. Had I stayed focused forward and on my personal best, I do not believe I would have stumbled, and also probably would have won. But the bigger lesson here is that if you are always looking behind you and around you, your energy is not focused in front of you—which is the direction you need to be going in.

Too often I see people, personally and professionally, consumed with what other people around them are doing, rather than focusing on themselves; their goals, personal bests and action steps to achieve them. When you concentrate your energy (mental, physical, or emotional) on anything other than “your race” you are, in essence, hindering your chances to “win” or find happiness and fulfillment in what you set out to do. If you constantly see others around you as nothing but your competition and become more consumed with what they are doing than with what you need to do, chances are you will not only lose, but also feel miserable, drained, and empty—completely unfulfilled.

Stay Focused on the Positive and Productive

This plays hand-in-hand with lesson number one. It’s much easier to block out the noise of “the competition” and stay within yourself when you keep your eye on the prize, and your thoughts centered on positive outcomes. In the case of my story, counter-productive emotions won out. I let my fear of being passed up on the track overtake my desire to experience the thrill of winning/running a great race.

Unfortunately, in entrepreneurs eager to launch an idea, I often see this tendency to succumb to fear when it’s time to share their idea with others, worrying that it will be stolen if they talk about it. When it comes to these concerns I like to challenge myself and other entrepreneurs to adopt a defiantly positive mindset and think more along the lines of “Go ahead, steal my idea if you want. I’ll just come up with another and another and another—and each one will be better than the last!” Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that you actually say that, or that it’s not imperative to protect your intellectual property. But you can see how an attitude that’s centered on inner-strength and belief creates a confident, resilient aura, and keeps unproductive emotions from paralyzing your efforts. It takes an incredible amount of energy to see a concept through to market, and positivity is an entrepreneur’s lightning rod. Be sure to treat it as the invaluable currency that it is. This same philosophy can be applied in all work environments as well. Do not get caught in the negativity and drama. Instead stay focused on doing your best and being the best version of yourself in all circumstances.

There’s a very poignant, and now famous, quote from a faux college commencement speech by Mary Schmich that goes, “Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.” I concur.

So, stay focused on the prize of your own race. And don’t worry about who’s in front, behind, or beside you—there will be more than enough experiences and lessons in your own journey to keep the story interesting.

Top media mogul and business expert, Jen Groover, has been tagged by Success Magazine as a “One-Woman Brand,” and “Creativity and Innovation Guru,” a leading “Serial Entrepreneur” by Entrepreneur Magazine. She has gone from guest-hosting spots on QVC to linking deals with some of the industry’s biggest heavyweights. Jen is a top business and lifestyle contributor and content creator for major networks such as ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC, Fox News, Fox Business News, and The CW.